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(No Model.) a Sheet's$heet 1.

- P. MOORE.

J DRAW GEAR AND BUFFING APPARATUS. No. 556,197. Patented M81210, 1896.

FIGJ H62.

(N0 Model.) .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. MOORE. DRAW GEAR AND BUFFING APPARATUS.

No. 556,197. Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-.8heet a;

P. MOORE. DRAW GEAR AND BUFPING APPARATUS- 556,197. k I Patented Mar.10, 1896.

411M II I "lin I FIG. 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK MOORE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE\VESTINGI-IOUSE, JR., OF SAME PLACE.

DRAW-GEAR AND BUFFING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,197, dated March10, 1896. Application filed November 4, 1895. Serial No- 567,832. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it 771/661/ concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Moons, a citizen of the United States,residingat Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Draw-Gear and Buffing Apparatus, of whichim provement the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in draw-gear and buffing apparatusin which a friction mechanism is brought into action by impact or byadraft or pulling action for the purpose of modifying shocks andabsorbing momentum.

My present invention is adapted to be employed in combination withdraw-gear and buffing apparatus of the same general class as that setforth in the several Letters Patent granted to George Westinghouse, Jr., No. 391,997, dated October 30, 1888; Nos. 499,335 and 499,336, datedJune 13, 1893; No. 543,915, dated August 6, 1895, and No. 545,994, datedSeptember 10, 1895. It is not, however, limited in its application to acombination with the particular constructions shown in these patents.

The object of my invention is to increase the efliciency of the frictionmechanism employed in such devices, and to this end it consists in meansfor effecting a quick release of the friction mechanism by relieving thefrictional surfaces of pressure or efiecting a reduction of the pressureby which the frictional surfaces are pressed together, and therebypermitting the automatic return of the parts to their normal positionsimmediately on the cessation of the pulling or buffing force by whichthe movement of the draw-bar or buffer from its normal position-iseffected; and my invention further consists in certain combinations andfeatures of construction which are hereinafter fully set forth.

My improvement is shown in the drawings applied to an apparatus which inits principal features of construction is similar to that a part ormember which is movable relatively to the part or member which carriesone or one series of the opposing frictional surfaces.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectionthrough a drawgear and bufling apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2,an inverted plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, atransverse section on the line a x of Fig. 1, the housingand springsbeing removed; Fig. 4, a central longitudinal section through thehousing within which the springs and friction mechanism are located;Fig. 5, an end view of the housing, looking in the direction of thearrow shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a central longitudinal section through acarrier-plate on the line y y of Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. '7, an end view ofthe carrier-plate shown in Fig. (3 Fig. 8, a plan view of thecarrienplate shown in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 9, a central longitudinalsection through one of the sets of inner wedge-bars on the line a z ofFigs. 10 and 11; Fig. 10, an end view of the set of wedge-bars shown inFigs. 9 and 11, and Fig. 11 a plan View of a part of one of the sets ofinner wedge'bars.

The construction shown in the drawings is that of a draw-gear andbuffing apparatus for railway-cars,in which a draw-bar 1 and a housing 2are supported by and movable in a main frame or casing composed of twolongitudinal members 3 and 4, which are adapted to be secured to thedraft-timbers and end sill of a car.

A draft-pin 5 passes through the inner end of the draw-bar and centrallythrough the housing 2. A head 6 on the outer end of the draft-pin 5bears on a shoulder formed on the inner end of the draw-bar, and theinner end of the draft-pin is screwthreaded and provided with a nut,which, when the draw-bar is moved outward, bears on the inner end of thehousing and transmits the longitudinal movement of the draw-bar anddraft-pin to the housing. The draft-pin 5 passes through 5 a wedge-block8, which is centrally located within the housing, and through a spring9, which bears at one end against the wedgeblock and at the other endagainst the follower-plate 10. A spring 11 bears at one end against theend of the housing 2 and at the other end against the carrier-plates 12,which surround the wedge-block 8.

A portion of the inner surface of each of the carrier-plates conforms tothe conical surface of the wedgeblock against which it bears, andprojecting from the outersurface of each of the carrier-plates 12 is awedge-bar 13, which is formed integral therewith and forms one of theinner series of wedge-bars.

\Vith the exception of the wedge-bars 13, which are formed integral withthe carrierplates, the inner series of wedgebars is divided into sets ofthree, each set having a curved rib 14 formed integral therewith,whiehrib is adapted to fit into circumferential grooves 15, formed in each ofthe carrierplates on opposite sides of the bars 13. The wed ge-bars 13and each of the wedge-bars 13 project into the spaces between the outerwedge-bars 1(i,which are formed integral with the housing 2.

The functions of the wedge-block, carrierplates, and inner and outerwedge-bars and their relations to the housing 2, to the springs E) and.11, and to the draw-bars are substantially the same as in Patent No.5l5,l94..aforesaid, and the operation is the same as in that patent,except in so far as it is affected by my present improvement.-

In the patent referred to and in my present improvement, when thedraw-bar is pushed inward, the follower-plate 10 is moved with it andcompresses the spring f),which, in turn, moves the wedge-block 8 inward.As the wedge-block is moved inward, longitudinal movement of thecarrier-plates is resisted by the sprin 11, and the wedging actionbetween. the surfaee of the wedge-block and the inner surfaces of thecarrier-plates forces the carrier-plates and inner wedge-bars laterallyoutward and presses the inner wed ge-bars into frictional contact withthe outer wedge-bars. \Vhen the follower-plate 10 has been moved farenough to bear on the ends of the carrierplates, the further movement ofthe draw-bar will move the carrier-plates and inner wedgebarslongitudinally relatively to the outer wedge-bars, and the movement ofthe drawbar will then be resisted by the friction between the inner andouter wedge-bars and by the spring 11. During such inward movement ofthe draw-bar the inner end of the housing 2 bears against the inner endportions 18 and 18 of the main frame or casing.

\Vhen the draw-bar is moved outward by a draft or pulling action, thedraft-pin 5 moves outward with the draw-bar, the nut 7 bears on theinner end of the housing 2, the housing is moved outward and the spring11 transmits the movement of the housing to the carrier-plates. As thecarrier-plates are moved longitudinally outward they at first slide onthe wedge-block 8, and by a wedging action are pressed laterallyoutward, causing the inner wedge-bars to be wedged between the outerwedge-bars, and as the resistance to movement between the carrienplatesand the wedge-block 8 increases the spring I) will be compressed untilthe outer ends of the carrier-plates bear against the follower-plate 10.Further movement of the draw-bar will then cause the housing and outerwedge-bars to move relatively to the inner wedge-bars, and the furthermovement of the draw-bar will. be resisted by the friction between theinner and outer wedge-bars and by the spring 1].

My present invention provides means whereby, when the friction mechanismhas been brought into action by either an inward or outward movement ofthe draw-bar and the pressure or pull on the draw-bar ceases, thewedge-block S and the carrier-plates may be quickly relieved of thewedging action between them and the prompt return of the parts to theirnormal positions effected. In order to attain this result, in my presentimprovement I have enlarged the diameter of the coil of the spring 11,and within. the spring 11 and surrounding the draft-pin 5 I have placeda spring 17, which is of such length that when the parts of the bullingapparatus within the housing are in their normal positions, it fitsloosely between the end of the wedge-block 8 and the inner end por tions18 and 18 of the housing 2 and exerts no pressure tending to separatethem.

The length of the spring 17 and its tension are so adjusted that whenthe draw-bar is moved inward or outward the necessary relative movementof the wedgebloek and carrier-plates may be effected to clamp the innerand outer wedge-bars together with sul'lieient force to produce thedesired amount of frietion before any very great pressure is brought onthe wedge-block by the compression of the spring 17, so that any furthercompression of the spring 17 will not counteract the resistance of thespring 9 to such. an extent as to affect or reduce the wedging action ofthe wedge-block.

lVhen the draw-bar 1 and follower-plate it) are moved inward, thecompression of the spring 9 wedges the carrier-plates outward and clampsthe inner wedge-bars against the outer wedge-bars, and when the furtherinward movement of the draw-bar and followerplate brings thefollower-plate in contact with the ends of the carrier-plates and movesthe carrier plates and inner wedge-bars relatively to the outerwedge-bars both the spring 11 and the spring 17 are compressed. Thecompression of the spring 17 may begin before the follower-plate 10comes in contact with the ends of the carrier-plates, if the spring 17is made suflicientlylong; but I pre for to make it of such a length thatits compression will not begin until after the follower-plate comes incontact with the ends of the carrier-plates and the wedge-block andcarrier-plates are moved inward relatively to the outer wedge-bars andhonsin g. The length of the spring 17 and its resistance to compressionwill depend on the degree to ICC which its pressure on the wedge-blockmust be limited and on the relative resistance to compression of thesprings 17, 11, and 9.

When the wedge-block and carrier-plates have been moved inward farenough to compress the springs 11 and 17, the removal of the pressure onthe draw-bar will permit the expansion of the spring 9 and the outwardmovement of the draw-bar and follower-plate 10. The pressure of thespring 17 acting on one side of the wedge-block against the reducedpressure of the spring 9 on the other side, will relieve the wedgingaction of the wedge-block on the carrier-plates, and the wedge-block andcarrier-plates will then be quickly returned to their normal positionsby the actions of the springs 11 and 17.

The action of the spring 17, by relieving or diminishing the wed gin gaction of the wedgeblock on the carrier-plates immediately on theexpansion of the spring 9, relieves the pressure by which the inner andouter wedgebars are clamped together and permits the spring 11 to actmore quickly than it would if no means were employed to relieve thewedging action of the wedge-block.

lVith my present improvement, when the draw-bar is pulled outward, thenut '7 on the draft-pin 5 transmits the motion of the drawbar to thehousing 2, and the outward longitudinal movement of the housing istransmitted. by the spring 11 to the carrier-plates 12. As thecarrier-plates 12 move longitudinally outward they are pressed laterallyoutward by the wedge-block 8 and clamp the inner and outer wedge-barstogether. The outward movement of the wedge-block is resisted by thespring 9, and as the draw-bar con'- tinues to move outward the spring 9is compressed, and when the ends of the carrierplates 12 come in contactwith the followerplate 10 the spring 11 is compressed, the housing 2 andthe outer wedge-bar 16 are moved outward or to the left, as shown inFig. 1, relatively to the inner wedge-bars and carrierplates, and thespring 17 is compressed by its contact with the wedge-block.

WVhen' the draft or pulling action on the draw-bar ceases, the spring 9expands and moves the wedge-block, carrier-plates, and housing inwardly,and with them the draftpin and draw-bar. The pressure exerted by thespring 9 on the wedge-block is lessened, and as the spring 9 continuesto expand the force with which the wedge-block presses thecarrier-plates outward is relieved by the expansion of the spring 17,which tends to illcrease the distance between the wedge-block and theinner end wall of the housing, and thereby relieves the wedging actionof the wedge-block, and as the springs 11 and 17 ex-' pand the parts arereturned to their normal positions.

My present improvement permits the employment of a wedge-block andcarrier-plates in which the angle of inclination of the wedging-surfacesmay be much smaller than could be otherwise employed, and the efficiencyof the wedging devices is thereby increased. If the angle of theinclination of the outer surface of the wedge-block and of the innersurfaces of the carrier plates is made great enough to insure at alltimes, a prompt release of the friction devices a much greater forcewill be required to secure the necessary friction, and the efficiency ofthe device will be much less than with my improvement. As the angle ofthe inclination of these surfaces is decreased to obtain the greatestefficiency of the wedging devices, the tendency of the parts to stickand prevent a prompt release increases, and this tendency is overcome bymeans of my improvement and a prompt release of the friction devicesinsured.

As shown in the drawings, the inner ends of the parts 3 and 4 of themain frame or casing extend laterally toward one another until they abutone against the other, and they are provided with lugs 20 and 21, havingboltholes through them for the bolts 22 and 23, by means of which theinner ends of the frame are secured together. The longitudinal ribs 21and 25 extend around and on the outside of the inner ends 18 and 18 ofthe frame, and are formed integral with the semicylindrical portions 26and 27, which form a central hub surrounding the draft-pin and the nut7.

The inner end of the draft-pin 5 is screwthreaded and provided with anadjustable screw-threaded nut 7, which is adapted to bear against theinner end of the housing 2 and to transmit motion thereto when thedraw-bar is moved outward. That portion of the nut 7 which bears againstthe housing 2 is provided with a cylindrical recess 28, of slightlygreater diameter than the screwthreaded portion of the draft-pin whichit covers, so that the left-hand end portion of the nut is not engagedwith the screw-threaded portion of the draft-pin, but projects over andcovers the screw-threads, so as to protect them from dust and dirt andfrom injury by contact with the housing, and, as shown in Fig. 1, arecess 29 of the same diameter is formed within the nut. The inner endof the draftpin is turned down to a smaller diameter than thescrew-threaded portion of the draftpin, and the inner end or theextension of the nut 7 or the right-hand end, as shown in Fig. 1, fitsclosely around this reduced portion of the draft-pin and protects theinner portions of the screw-threads from dust and dirt.

The portion of the screw-thread on the draft-pin which is to the left ofthe screwthread on the nut is necessary to permit the adjustment of thenut to take up any undue lost motion between the nut and the housing,

IIO

and the recesses 28 and 29, being of greater 13o diameter than thescrew-threaded portions of the draft-pin and nut, permit the adjustmentof the nut without jamming, the extent of the adjustment being limitedby the length of the recesses 28 and 29, measured in the direction ofthe axis of the nut.

An. opening 30 is formed through the inner end of the nut to receive apin 31, which is provided with a head which fits closely in or is butlittle smaller than the width of the opening, so that the nut is lockedin position when the pin is in place. Measured longitudinally, or in thedirection of the axis of the nut, the size of the opening 30 is suchthat when the pin 31 is removed the nut may be adjusted to the desiredextent and the opening 30 turned into position to permit the replacingof the pin-that is, the pin may be replaced after the nut has been givenone or more turns or half-turns from the position shown in the drawings,as such movement of the nut will bring the opening 30 in, line with theopening through the draft-pin. On account of the comparatively smallsize of the screw-threads no adjustment of the nut less than a half-turnwill be necessary.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Thecombination, in a draw-gear, orbuifing, apparatus of frictional devicesadapted to be forced together for the purpose of oreating a frictionalresistance, a device which is adapted to force the frictional devicestogether by a wedging action, and means for releasing or relieving thewedgin g action, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a draw-gear or buffing apparatus, of intercalatedfrictional devices, a wedging device for forcing the frictional devicestogether to create a frictional resistance, and means for releasing thewedgin g device, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a draw-gear or buff ing apparatus, of an innerand an outer series of friction devices, carriers for the inner seriesof frictional devices, a wed ge-block which is adapted to act on thecarriers and wedge them outward to cause a frictional resistance betweenthe inner and outer series of friction devices, and means adapted to acton the wed ge-block and diminish or prevent its wec ging action when theaction of the pulling or bu'lfing force ceases, substantially as setforth.

l. The combination, in a draw-gear, orbuffing, apparatus, of an innerand an outer series of wedge-shaped bars, carrier-plates on which theinner series of wedge bars bear, and by which they are moved relativelyto the outer series, a wedging device for forcing the carri er-plateslaterally outward and there by pressing the inner and outer series ofwedge-bars together, and a releasing device which is adapted to act 011the wedging device to release or diminish its wedging action when thepulling or bufling force ceases, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a draw-gear, or bu iling, apparatus, offrictional devices adapted to be forced together for the purpose oforeating a frictional resistance to the movement of a draw-bar, orbuffer-head, a wedging device by which the frictional devices are forcedtogether, and a spring which is adapted to act on the wedging device toprevent or di minish its wedging action when the pulling, or bulhngforce, by which the draw-bar or buffer-head is actuated, ceases,substantially as set forth.

(3. The combination, in a nut, of a screwthreaded portion, recessedportions on each side of the screw-threaded portion which are of greaterinternal diameter than the screw threaded portion, and an extension orend portion the internal diameter of which is equal to or less than theinternal diameter of the threaded portion, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, in a nut, of a screwthreaded portion, recessedportions on each side of the screwthreaded portion which are of greaterinternal diameter than the screwthreaded portion, an extension or endportion the internal diameter of which equal to or less than theinternal diameter of the threaded portion, and a transverse opening orpassage through the extension or end portion, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination with a screw-tilreaded bolt, or pin, of a nutprovidedwith an internal screw-threaded portion, recessed portions oneach side of the screw-threaded portion of the nut which are of greaterinternal. d iameter than the diameter of the SClG\\'-tl110fl.(l0(lportion on the belt or nut, an end portion or extension on the nut whichis adapted to fit closely 011 a reduced portion of the bolt or pin, anda passage through the end portion or extension of the nut which isadapted to register with, or be placed in line with, an opening throughthe bolt, or pin, whereby the nut may be locked in position by a pinpassing through the openings in the nut and pin, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK MOORE.

lVitnesses:

.T. SNowDEN BELL, F. E. GAITHER.

